Ahead of the Western Conference semifinal against LAFC on November 25, 2024, Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer expressed confidence in his team's strategy.

Sounders forward Jordan Morris acknowledged LAFC's recent dominance but highlighted Seattle's strong performance in the latter half of the season and their growing self-belief.

Morris noted that the team has taken critics' doubts about their playoff chances personally, which has fueled their motivation to excel in the postseason.

LAFC's assistant coach, Ante Razov, recognized the competitiveness of past encounters, while also acknowledging Seattle's recent undefeated streak since their last defeat to LAFC in late August 2024.

In knockout competitions over the past year, LAFC has eliminated Seattle three times, underscoring the one-sided nature of their rivalry.

Historically, Seattle has struggled against LAFC, winning only five of their 22 meetings since LAFC's inception in 2018, indicating a clear trend favoring their opponents.

This season, LAFC has dominated their matchups against Seattle, winning all encounters with a combined score of 9-1.

With the top seeds in the Eastern Conference eliminated, the winner of this semifinal will have the opportunity to host the MLS Cup, adding extra significance to the match.

Morris suggested that Seattle could adopt an underdog mentality, recalling their surprising 3-1 victory over LAFC in the 2019 Western Conference Final.